I went to see Reverse play at Bill’s Bar Friday night, and got to catch The Beatings for the first time. They’re a four-piece indie-rock act from Boston that’s been around for a couple of years, and they reminded me a lot of Hüsker Dü and the last Pixies album, Trompe le Monde.

It’s a pretty raw sound, but always melodic and direct. And I liked that the two guitarists and bassist each took turns at the mic — (no doubt they also share in song writing). 

• Myspace : take a listen to some tracks
• eMusic : download albums

Things have been so hectic with work lately, there’s been no time to update.

I’ll be attending the SXSW Interactive Festival this year in Austin, TX. I just couldn’t let another year go by.

I’m crashing with Jason and the EchoDitto crew at the Hyatt — can’t wait to meet everybody.

I always knew there was something wrong with Nick Hornby… now I have proof.

Some great Greasemonkey scripts for Gmail
conversation preview bubbles, Label colors, & keyboard macros

Smart Google Reader Subscribe Button
Another cool Greasemonkey script, if you’re into Google apps.

Alison from Project Runway Season 3 is getting her own line
Kicked off way to early, (I don’t say this just because she was the cutest), it’s good to see her doing well. And, she’s a Cape Cod native.

Quinn: a nice Tetris version for OS X

Free, and you can play on your local network, with Bonjour support!

Chief Justice Rehnquist was on painkillers for 10 years

A doctor was cited as saying that Rehnquist, an associate justice of the Supreme Court at the time, tried to escape the hospital in his pajamas and imagined that the CIA was plotting against him.

YouTube - OUTSOURCED movie trailer

Sounds familiar:

After his entire department is outsourced, an American novelty products salesman (Hamilton) heads to India to train his replacement.

Parallels Desktop for Mac Update Beta3

The best and fastest Windows virtualization for OS X gets a new UI, and support for USB 2.0.

photo by NME

The Official Blur mailing list announced today that Damon Albarn’s new project The Good, The Bad And The Queen, will perform their first gig at a BBC festival in October. TGTBTQ is a collaboration between Albarn (Blur & Gorillaz), bassist Paul Simonon of The Clash, and guitarist Simon Tong of The Verve.

Damon is already setting expectations high, according to the BBC:

It was “a story” rather than a band, said Albarn, adding he was “very, very proud” of the work, which will be performed on 26 October at the Roundhouse.

“It’s a very English record. It’s the first time I’ve really written about home since Parklife,” he said.

The sound of the composition was “very cosmopolitan” with “a lot of songs that have got historical stories to them”, Albarn added.

A single will be released this fall, but the album isn’t due until 2007, produced by Danger Mouse. Check out the official website for more info and a teaser video.

UPDATE: Scott at Stereogum posted with a YouTube link to the teaser video.

4 restless hours of sleep, and 1 Jetblue direct flight from BOS to AUS, and I found myself in Austin. Checked into the hotel and met up with the EchoDitto folks, and other friends. There are like 4 Jasons, 2 Justins, a John (me) — so it gets confusing.

70 degrees here, 55 or so at night. This festival totally takes over the city. Met some cool people last night, and the first panel this morning was cool — i started in “why XSLT is sexy”, but bailed for “emerging social and technology trends”. Next up, “How to Bluff Your Way in Web 2.0”, with Andy Budd & Jeremy Keith… which I expect to be hilarious.

Only complaints are that the hotel is a bit of a walk, across the river. And, i’m sick… so i’m completely groggy and don’t feel like talking to anybody. but, i’ll get over it.

Another problem is trying to explain my job, and what the Localization industry is. It comes off sounding really lame, considering everybody I talk to works small design shops…

So if you have any ideas how to punch it up a bit, let me know.

The Good, The Bad And The Queen - “Herculean”
Stereogum has an MP3 of the first single from TGTB&TQ… it’s more Gorillaz than vintage Blur, but haunting none the less.
More info on TGTB&TQ here

Sorry for not posting in a while, but Presley posted something too funny:

Weed Makes You Listen to Indie Rock

According to the Office of National Drug Control Policy and the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, smoking the wacky tabacky turns you into a poseur. Even worse: an indie rock poseur.

Listen to this PSA. Just listen to it. And then just try to tell me it doesn’t make you want to put down the bong and start listening to rap music.

[mp3]

The BEAST 50 Most Loathsome People in America, 2006

An alt weekly from my home town has some snarky observations.